The mountain plover is a medium-sized shorebird found in the arid grasslands and shrub-steppe regions of the western United States. Recognizable by their pale brown plumage, mountain plovers are ground-nesting birds that rely on their ability to fly to find food, water, and safe nesting sites. So can mountain plovers fly? The simple answer is yes, mountain plovers can definitely fly. They have strong wings suited for sustained flight and migration. However, there are some interesting facts about the mountain plover’s flying abilities and behaviors worth exploring in more detail.
Flight Capabilities
Mountain plovers have a wingspan of 16.5-19.5 inches, similar to other common shorebirds like killdeer. Their wings are rounded and broad, an adaptation for making the sustained flight needed to travel long distances between breeding and wintering grounds. Plovers are capable of flying at speeds averaging 30-40 mph but can reach up to 60 mph when migrating with favorable winds.
Powerful flight muscles and hollow bones make mountain plovers light enough for flight while still retaining strength. Their light plumage and body weigh on average 3.2-5.3 oz, similar to a tennis ball. This balance of strength, maneuverability, and low weight gives mountain plovers strong flying skills for their small size.
Migration
One key use of mountain plover flight is the long migrations they make each year between breeding and wintering habitats. Their migratory routes span thousands of miles between western states like Montana and wintering regions in Mexico and California.
Mountain plovers begin southbound fall migration in August and September. They form large flocks numbering into the hundreds or thousands of birds. These flocks follow established migration routes aided by wind currents and topography. Some flocks will cover over 2,000 miles to reach wintering grounds by late September or October.
The return spring migration starts in February and March. Flocks again assemble and fly north following breeding instincts. Their flight capabilities allow mountain plovers to navigate these huge migratory journeys annually.
Foraging Flight
Mountain plovers also rely on flight for foraging and hunting prey. When foraging, they usually fly fairly close to the ground, within 6-12 inches. Their flight when searching for prey is described as slow, erratic, and buoyant.
This flight pattern allows them to closely scan the ground for insects, spiders, small lizards, and seeds. When prey is spotted, they abruptly change direction and speed to capture it. Mountain plovers sometimes hover briefly while hunting to zero in on prey. Their ability to fly precisely, swiftly, and close to the ground are key hunting adaptations.
Flight Behaviors
In addition to physical flight capabilities, mountain plovers exhibit flight behaviors that are important to their lifestyle and survival. Understanding how and when mountain plovers use flight gives further insight into their flying skills.
Evasive Flight
When approached by predators or perceived threats, mountain plovers will burst into fast erratic flight to escape danger. Their maximum flight speed is used to rapidly get away from threats. Plovers will fly 50 yards or more before landing and running farther on foot.
This evasive flight demonstrates mountain plovers’ ability to go from rest to fast flying instantly when in peril. It is an important survival reaction.
Distraction Displays
Mountain plovers use a unique distraction flight display to defend their ground nests from predators. When a predator nears the nest, the parent plover flies away from the nest while calling loudly.
This conspicuous display draws attention away from the well-camouflaged nest by making the parent seem like an easy target. It shows the plover’s ability to lure predators away using flight and calls. Only when the predator is out of range of finding the nest will the parent return.
Aerial Displays
During breeding season, mountain plovers perform aerial breeding displays. One member of a pair will take off and ascend quickly to 100-200 feet high, sometimes even higher.
They make sharp dives toward the ground before pulling up rapidly and landing near their mate. This rollercoaster-like flight shows off flying skill and indicates a mating territory. The aerial maneuvers require great speed control and precision.
Threats to Flight
While mountain plovers are strong fliers overall, some factors can impede their flight abilities or make flying more hazardous. These include:
Injury
Like all birds, injuries to a mountain plover’s wings or muscles can severely impact its ability to fly effectively. Collisions with vehicles or fences, predator attacks, and similar injuries can ground plovers and make them unable to migrate or feed themselves. Nesting birds are especially vulnerable since they hesitate to leave eggs.
Exhaustion
Extreme weather events during migration can exhaust mountain plovers’ energy for flying. Snowstorms, dense fog, powerful headwinds, or rain requiring a water landing to rest can tax flight muscles and fat reserves needed to complete migrations. If exhausted, plovers must land and replenish before finishing journeys.
Habitat Loss
The decline of native prairie breeding habitat forces plovers to fly farther between suitable nesting sites each year. Longer flights between fragmented grassland areas consume more energy and expose plovers to more risks during migration and foraging. Lack of quality habitat is linked to reduced mountain plover numbers.
Researching Flight
Scientists study mountain plover flight patterns and behaviors to support conservation efforts. Techniques used in research include:
Banding
Attaching numbered leg bands or radio transmitters helps track individual plovers. Data on migration routes, lifespan, site fidelity, and causes of death can inform protection measures based on flight paths and critical habitat.
Surveys
Ground and aerial surveys document population numbers over time in defined areas. Comparing data helps determine if habitat changes are supporting stable flight paths and nesting grounds for mountain plovers.
Telemetry
Using devices like tiny GPS backpack transmitters allows precision tracking of mountain plover movements, flights, and migrations in real time. It provides detailed flight path data to guide conservation planning.
Research Method | Data Gathered |
---|---|
Banding | Migration routes, lifespan, survival rates |
Surveys | Population counts, nesting density |
Telemetry | Detailed flight paths, energy expenditure |
Conclusion
In summary, mountain plovers are very capable of sustained, long-distance flight thanks to their specialized lightweight build, wingspan, and flight muscle strength. They rely on flying abilities for critical needs like migration, foraging, and escape from predators. Unique flying behaviors like distraction displays and aerial breeding displays also highlight mountain plovers’ flying skills. While some threats exist, mountain plovers continue to be agile fliers, a key adaptation allowing them to thrive in wide-open habitats. Ongoing research on their flight ecology provides data to help conserve these athletic shorebirds into the future. Their ability to fly long distances and utilize flight strategically for survival makes mountain plovers a fascinating bird perfectly suited to the western prairies and steppes.